The VET researchers at Federation University, offer a series of short presentations around the theme of 'The 'beyond COVID' OctoberVET'. The session is MCed by Annette Foley. This is the 14th session of OctoberVet from the university.
The programme begins with an introduction and welcome from Professor Andy Smith, deputy vice-chancellor academic. Provided context, especially the current challenges posed by Covid especially the shift to online learning. VET will have to pay a significant role in the recovery as well and it is important to work towards the future.
The programme's keynote is with Gary Workman, executive direction of Apprentice Employment Network. He presents on the topic 'Apprenticeships: what would it take?' Provided a summary of the state of apprenticeship in Victoria over the last two years and employer perspectives. AEN supports 6000 apprentices and works with 10,000 employers through a group apprenticeship training arrangement. Last 18 months has seen young people affected due to the long duration of Victoria's 'lockdown'. All apprenticeship have been affected but greatest across hairdressing, hospitality, childcare, automotive with Melbourne more deeply affected than regional areas. Vaccinations have also provided another stream of challenges. Now working on ensuring all apprentices are back to speed and able to continue / or move to another employer to continue their training. At the moment, apprentice numbers have increased due to the 50% wage subsidy offered to employers. Shared the project carried out to understand empployer needs. In general, employers considering more flexible arrangements rather than be locked in to a long period of time with most apprenticeship. Agility needed by employers as they cope with continual change (including to government subsidies) and challenge. Key findings revolved around financial levers, support models for employers, coolaborative pre-employment training models, use of the work/learning combination to suit industry needs and the implications of procurement and contracting from government funded projects.
Researchers' presentations include:
'The curious case of jobs and training in retail and hospitality' with Professor Erica Smith, Associate Professor Darryn Snell (from RMIT) and Richard Robinson (University of Queensland) in conjuction with Skills IQ and funded by the National Careers Institute. Employ 20% of Australians, has low prestige but during Covid, increased understanding of their role. Reports on the preliminary phase on 'careers available' and evaluate how it is portrayed as post-school pathways and VET. Used census, Longitudinal surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) and NCVER VET data. LSAY data reveals only 3 - 5% of youth working in retail/hospitality expected to be working in these jobs at 30!. However, large numbers of young people work in these industries (50% of 19 year old workers). Hospitality has 200,000 plus enrolments but retail only 50,000 plus enrolled into VET qualifications. Therefore, large numbers of people in retail/hospitality were being trained. 5% in retail and 31% in hospitality.
Then, Anthony Pearce with 'teacher-student relationships in alternative secondary education'. In Australia, the alternative secondary school sector is situated in VET. Students complete the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learing (VCAL). Shared story as a new teacher and a difficult student to provide rationale for his presentative. Interviews of VCAL students to tease out their perspectives on the importance of, value and educaiton environment on the teacher-student relationship. Small study with 9 students who wrote one positive and one negative experience and followed up with informal interview. Key themes revealed students to be reflective, they attributed their opinions to particular environments, mainstream education seen to be negative, ways teachers responded often impacted on student outcomes; negative experiences revolved around perceived unfair treatment. Therefore, students can be at greatest risk when they are engaging with teachers, alternative education identified as the place students have more fulfilling relationships with teachers.
A summary of "VET student employment outcomes during Covid-19' is presented by Peter Fieger. Analysed data from the NCVER student outcome survey - basically a graduate destination survey including indications of satisfaction with training/education. Impact of Covid was added to the last survey administered in mid- 2020 and completed by amost 1/2 million 'students'. Explained quantitative research process. As result of Covid, students who did not complete, tended to have decrease in hours whereas completers less affected. Larger decreases for people in creative arts and food/hospitality and younger people (no surprises). Similar patterns for people who lost their work but also high in 65+. Comparision of 2019 and 2020 data on training package labour market outcomes tell a similar story - younger workers more affected with regards to job outcomes.
Honorary Professor Barry Golding and Associate Professor Annette Foley present their work on 'and now women's sheds': broadening the scope of thecommunity-based shed field internationally'. Introduced the field, with the concept of 'men's sheds' opening to include women, children, First Nations people, war veterans, people with dementia etc. and traditional sheds moving beyond older, white, rutal, conservative anglophone men. Small numbers of women's sheds starting up but only small numbers when compared to men's sheds (e.g. NZ 121 mens to 3 womens). The original book. now extended and includes more case studies for woment's sheds. Shared 2 case studies, one at Yeoval and another the Central Coast Community Shed (Ulverstone, Tasmania). Concluded with the intangible benefits for participants and the contibution of women's sheds.
An interesting range of topics :)
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